146 people are now better equipped to fight SCAMS and FRAUD in North Yorkshire

Between 6th - 10th February 2017 Julia Mulligan, supported the Friends Against Scams initiative by running 14 Friends Against Scams awareness sessions and SCAMchampion training in Harrogate, York and Scarborough in North Yorkshire.

Attendees included people from councils, NHS, fire service, police and private care organisations along with individuals who just wanted to become more scam aware.

By the end of the week, North Yorkshire had recruited:

146 Friends Against Scams

104 SCAMchampions, and

2 SCAMbassadors

With their new skills, the 104 SCAMchampions will now go back to their communities, looking out for the tell tail signs of victims and raising awareness amongst their colleagues and the people they care for.

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Will Naylor signed up as SCAMbassadors and have pledged to continue to help raise awareness scams and promote the Friends Against Scams initiative in North Yorkshire.

Julia Mulligan said:

"Scams and fraud was one of the top five priorities mentioned by people during the consultation for my police and crime plan so I am really pleased to be able to provide this opportunity and raise awareness of this blight on our communities.

"These types of crime don't only have a devastating emotional effect on their victims but they also take away their life long savings and security for the future.

"I want to thank everyone who came along and took part and also to Friends Against Scams for running these events for us in North Yorkshire."

Louise Baxter, Team Manager at the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said:

"I am really pleased that people in North Yorkshire are getting involved in the Friends Against Scams campaign and helping to 'Take a Stand Against Scams'.

"This campaign is about protecting our communities, particularly people in vulnerable situations who are deliberately targeted by criminals, and it is great to see that people in North Yorkshire want to do exactly that.

"We hope that people will be able to take what they have learnt at the Friends Against Scams awareness session and turn knowledge into action in their community.

Thank you

We want to thank the following organisations for taking part (this is not a definitive list; if your organisation is missing, please let us know):

Aegis Counselling Service

Craven District Council

Ulleskelf Parish Council

Disability Action Yorkshire

Gladstone Road School

Harrogate Easier Living Project

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

NatWest

Neighbourhood Watch

NHS Foundation Trust

North Yorkshire Advocacy

North Yorkshire County Council

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

North Yorkshire Police

Red Cross

Ryedale District Council

Scarborough Borough Council

Stockton Hall Hospital

Victim Support

White Rose Home Improvement Agency

Yorkshire Coast Homes

Variety
of methods scammers used has opened my eyes to what may have previously
appeared as lower level nuisance.